'Paying hackers a ransom is a race to the bottom', says HSE chief

On the issue of the vaccine rollout, HSE chief executive Paul Reid said the HSE estimates being on target for this week with 260,000-280,000 jabs administered, with a similar plan for next week. Photo: Leon Farrell / Photocall Ireland

The HSE chief has defended the Government's decision not to pay a ransom to hackers who are threatening to release patient data online as the health system struggles from the impact of last week's cyberattack.

HSE chief executive Paul Reid said on Thursday that “paying a ransom is a race to the bottom”, and only serves to increase the “capacity and capability” of the criminal groups.